An ageing population is the common demographic trend in developing countries. What has popularly been referred to as the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation, will soon be entering their retirement years. A generation of ageing baby boomers will usher in new patterns of transport needs and choices among retiring Australians. This paper explores the potential urban car use characteristics of the baby boomer generation as they enter their retirement years, with a focus on the attitudes, values and aspirations that underpin these transport choices. First, a review of literature regarding the issue of ageing and transport choice is discussed; and second, preliminary results from a qualitative Sydney case study of recent retirees are presented. The shortcomings of the literature confirm that it is unlikely that the ageing baby boomers, with markedly different capacities, expectation of retirement and experience of motorisation will display similar transport choices as the current generation of retirees and the elderly. The qualitative interviews explore the attitudes, values and aspirations of recent retirees and how these may underpin transport choice and a continued reliance on the car. The interviews illustrate a range of the social and cultural underpinnings that contribute to transport choice and a retiring ‘car culture’.

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Awarded the John Taplin Prize for Best Paper at the 27th Australasian Transport Research Forum.